Reflections and Reactions

Meanwhile, in the hangar of HALST's main ship, Z-man and his assorted pokemon, digimon, medabots, and cabbit sat, preparing for the meeting.

"An entire universe. Gone," Z-man said, more to himself than his friends. "I know why she did it, but why?"

"The Overlord has done a lot," Renamon told him, "But even he has not ended an entire universe."

"But what he would do with Khazan would be worse," Sharkan said. "This way they get the release of shut down."

"But what do we become," Leomon asked, "If we become worse than the very creature we're fighting?"

"With the Orb," Z-man said, "We'll have the power to restore Khazan. We'll be able to erase the very same lives she sacrificed."

"Doom. Houndoom Houn Houn Doom hound," Houndoom pointed out.

"Indeed," Leomon agreed with him. "Ressurection does not undo the act of killing."

"Abra. Kad?" Kadabra asked.

"Because he fears what her answer might be," Renamon answered. "She is an ally in this war, and Tanith has been a friend of his long before. She is his business partner. How can he work with her, knowing what she is capable of?"

"Yeah," Peppercat agreed. "But what else was there to do? It's not like there was any other way to get around it."

"Y'know," Z-man spoke up again, "Back before this whole war began, before I met any of you, before even I got these powers, there was a thread on the message board that began all of this. It was all related to God and all of that. And I can remember that I kept repeating that I would not make a deal with the Devil, no matter what the cost or the consequences.

"I guess we never know the strength of our convictions until they're tested."

Written by Tanith

Comfort of Death

Somehow, even though Tanith had planned to return to her own quarters first to think on everything that had happened that day, she found her steps involuntarily headed for another room. Now, she stood inside Jaffa's old room, looking blankly at the equipment he had left behind so as to prevent the Andromeda from tracking him.

Slowly, she picked up Eversharp, the unbreakable Uru sword. It had been enchantment attuned to Jaffa, appearing in his hand whenever he called it... but now, with him dead, it was just a normal Uru sword. If Uru swords could ever be called "normal".

Sliding the sword out of its sheath, Tanith peered at her reflection in the bright blade.

When did he fall? Why did I not see it? Whence did the nobility that once I... and even Thor... saw within him go?

And why did he do it? What could the Dominion possibly offer him to... to betray his own people?

The swishing of the door interrupted her thoughts. Tanith looked up to see her sister enter and plop down on the bed she stood next to. The younger girl seemed troubled.

"He's not coming back, is he?" she asked softly.

Tanith looked into her sister's eyes. "You looked just now, didn't you?" She received no reply. With a sigh, she put the Uru blade back into it's sheath. "He received just deserts for his actions." Her voice was just a bit shaky on the last part.

"And what of those who did not escape from Khazan?" Rune blurted out. "Did they--" She stopped midsentence, unable to continue.

Tanith dropped down to sit next to her sister. "Everyone in Khazan knew that we had planned to sacrifice the nexus as our last resort. They... we all knew the risks, even if they didn't know the details." She paused, then quietly muttered one more line, as if to herself. "Besides, a quick death would be preferrable to what prisoners would endure in the Overlord's hands."

Rune peered at her. "Is that why you asked the MunchKING to kill you?" she asked accusingly. "Did you know that he would spare you?"

Tanith did not answer. Instead, she stood up from the bed. "I should be heading for the Council soon." She walked up to the door, which swished open before her, and stepped out into the corridor.

Mg was standing there, as if waiting for her. She didn't know how long he'd been there, nor what, if anything, he had overheard, but she wasn't in the mood to wonder. Motioning him to follow her, she headed down the corridor. Rune followed the two quietly.

"You can't have a bloodless war, you know," Mg began calmly. "Not against someone like Glasgow." Tanith shot him a questioning look she continued walking. "Those of our people knew they were risking death or worse when they joined. And those of the Dominion... they were dead before they joined."

"Is that supposed to comfort me?" Tanith asked him.

"No," he returned. "War is never supposed to be a comfort." So saying, he changed the subject. "Most of the damage to the ship was superficial or repairable. Except Woundhealer, one of the Twelve, which we believe Z-woman took with her when she raided our medical supplies..."

"That's not likely to be of much use to them," Tanith noted. "Benedict now holds Shieldbreaker, and both Farslayer and Mindsword have been shattered."

"What about the other..." Mg asked.

Tanith's only reply was a mysterious smile as they reached the door to her quarters. As Mg waited outside, she entered her room. About a minute or two later, she returned, her attire cleaned of the dust and blood from the battle before.

"We depart for the Council."

Written by Mr. Sandman

The Price of Progress

It was gone......

Seth could not belive it. It was all gone. In one moment an untold amount of lifeforms all dissapered into the void. Some were bad, some were good, most were innocent, but none were spared. Seth could do nothing but feel sorry for them.

Tears begain to well up as he slowly removed a old picture from his pocket. His sad eyes were met by the happy, careing eyes of his parents. His mother cradled a baby in her arms, his father gave a cheerful smile and in the corner Cody was eating a pile of candy he stole from someone.

Seth: "Just like you....."

Seth's voice trailed off.

Seth: "All those poor people.... They dissappeared from existance.
Just like you......."

Seth cradled the piture in his hands.

Seth: "Why did you have to go like that. Why did you have to leave me."

Seth throws the picture on the ground

Seth: "So many people kill each other everyday, so many people die that never deserve to. And for what! So the few that are in power can gain even more."

At that moment the door slides open and cody enters

Cody: "Hey seth, I need you on the brige."

Seth: "I know. Cody, I just found out that...... Khazan has been destoryed."

Cody: "God darn it!!!!! There was a whole bunch of people that owed me money there. Well, no big deal. What's done is done. How come on kiddo, we got work to do."

Seth: "But don't you care!"

Cody: "There's always a price on power seth. Sometimes it can be steep but if you ever want to win then you must pay it. That's the price of progress."

Without a word cody turns his back to seth and walks out the door leaving seth to ponder the words

Seth: "If the road to power is paved only with blood then never will my feet touch it."

Rolling onto his back, The Drunkard Kid let his eyes wander along the ceiling of his bedroom tracking the twisted walkways of Escher's "Relativity" that was painted upon it, his mind traveling paths far more convoluted even as his eyes began to ache slightly from the mindbending image.

Now that his little creations were assisting with repairs, he had some time to rest and think. He was quickly coming to regret that.

Necessary or not, I am now directly responsible for the destruction of countless worlds... Sure it wasn't my plan, but I definitely didn't argue with Tanith when she asked. A friggin' universe.

His own palms came into his field of view, one tattoed, one clear except for a few old scars.

Countless lives, and countless potential, all wiped out by these two hands. On the one hand, if they had been allowed to keep either of them, all of existence would have been at their mercy, as they could go from universe to universe, sealing and attacking them without fear of outside interference.

On the other hand, have I got any more right than Glasgow to choose who lives and who dies. They might have been vicious murderers, but that was the Overlord's fault. Who knows what kind of souls are... were trapped within those killing shells.

As he noticed his eyes watering, his face got an irritated cast as he sat up and swung around in one easy motion.

Bah! Now I remember why I never look directly at that stupid thing, my brain feels like mush and my eyes are leaking from the strain... And what am I doing moping around here? Good, bad, whatever. My Karma will deal with itself, and I can just go around the circle of life a couple of times to clean it. This is war, and if destroying Khazan will keep the Overlord's power from extending, it was worth it. If it makes sure that his end will come one day, then I shall bathe my soul in blood.

But still...

Offering a quick prayer for the countless souls lost that day, DK stood up and decided to start a task he had been planning for later. Well, now that their safe haven was gone, there was no point in procrastinating...

"Andromeda?"

The omnipresent AI blinked into existence on a holographic screen a bit in front of him. "Yes DK?"

"My holoprojector fixed yet?"

"It's been fixed for the last 3 hours. If you want, I can teleport it to you right now."

Looking far too amused for the Drunkard Kid's happiness, Rommie responded to his query. "I'm sorry DK, but the Captain has insisted that I ensure that a certain purple haired Mazoku be subdued if he enters this ship. Of course, I had to make certain that you were who you appeared to be."

"Yeah. I'm sure."

Even though she remained expressionless, the AI gave more than a hint of smirkitude in her features. "Be glad I kept it non-lethal. Now answer my question."

"Seriously though, it's a surprise." Sensing that she was about to display her irritation via voltage once more, he felt the urge to add something. "Trust me."

*ZAP!*

Apparently, that wasn't the right thing to say.

Oh well... I guess I can procrastinate for another 5 more minutes mommy...

Written by Yeoman

In the galley of the Andromeda

While most of the crew had adjoured to their quarters, or were planning their next move, Yeoman-Zel did what was natural for him, he went to get something to eat.

Finding the galley empty he set about making some sandwiches. During this process was when Kasumi Tendo walked in.

"Oh, hello Mr. Yeoman. If you wanted something you could have called."

"It came to me that the senior crew would probably be doing some long planning sessions, and that they'd need something to eat."

"Ah, good idea."

Kasumi watched him for a while before she said, "A lot of the crew seem... unnerved by what happened at Khazan."

"That kinda destruction'll do that."

"You don't seem too bothered by it."

"Don't get me wrong, it's a horrible thing, but this is a war. Bad things happen in wars. Important thing right now is that we're alive and we're free. We're the last hope the multiverse has. And if we'd fallen on Khazan, well, it's adios free will."

She watched him poor a glass of milk and before he left he said "Anyway, I'm gonna take this back to me room, watch some videos, and try to relax. After all, we're no good to the universe if we're so tense we can't even shoot straight."

Written by Yeoman

A few minutes later...

Opening his eyes from their Andromeda assisted slumber, The Drunkard Kid had only one thing on his mind.

Gah... What battleship hit me? Oh. Never mind...

A quick examination of the room showed no evidence of an irate AI on the premesis. Noting the repaired holoprojector that had been placed on his bead, DK assumed that she had eventually decided that he probably wasn't going to do anything *too* stupid.

Hmm... only out for 10 minutes. Gotta remember to thank Boss Lady for the nanites. Alright, this time, lets try to stay awake long enough to get this done.

Deciding to just take the elevators instead of risking the interest of Rommie by asking for teleportation, he managed to reach the empty room without attracting any attention. When he opened the door, he was pleasantly surprised by the size of it. Wondering how a room the size of a football field could go empty on a ship of refugees, a moment's thought led him to the conclusion that Andromeda had used some subspace manipulation to grant extra size to this one, and probably several more. After making a few circles of the room, planning the placement of his newest work.

First order of business is to make this room a proper climate.

Ordering his holoprojecter to produce the image of a square field which covered 90% of the room, with a thought he solidified it into a transparent forcefield, in order to protect himself from the forces that were about to be released. Once that was done, a dozen anti-grav generators were placed at even intervals along the closed area, already chugging away on their anti-matter cells, lowering the inside of the field into a zero G environment.

Alright then. I can make wallet sized into lunar... lets see how well I do the reverse.

Taking a moment to focus, he ordered his projector to bring up a lifelike hologram of the Solar System, the central star the size of a beachball, and little Pluto wandering around well outside his field of view. Bending his mind upon the holograph, the picture of light, he twisted it down. Beach ball became golf ball then pea. Pluto started to limit its orbit purely within the rectangular area of the field, until he managed to get it to fit perfectly. After a few seconds, his micro solar system was well and truly finished.